He Must Needs Have Hope

This is the text of a talk I gave in sacrament meeting on June 10, 2018. 

INTRO

This past Sunday evening, President and Sister Nelson hosted an historic devotional with the youth of the Church. I am sure most already are familiar with what was spoken during that meeting and can name or are at least aware of the 5 challenges that President Nelson gave the youth. However, if you find the text online, you will see that it has been titled, “Hope of Israel”. Today I would like to talk about what it means to be the “Hope of Israel”.

PARABLE

I would like to start by telling a parable, of sorts – one I heard on my mission.

There once was a man with great faith in God who lived alone in a home. One year there was a giant hurricane on its way toward his home. The news predicted overwhelming flooding and great danger for anyone in its way.

Immediately, evacuations were called for and people began leaving the city.  Well, this man thought this would be a great time to show his great faith in God. So, while others were packing and leaving, he sat on his porch, reading his scriptures and praying, showing his faith in God, that he would be saved.

The papers, the radio, the TV, all called for evacuations, but this man and his great faith were determined that God would save him. So he stayed.

Then, as the rain and winds began to blow, busses and other vehicles drove through the neighborhood calling for people to leave their homes and to hitch a ride out of town. But this man remained prayerful and strong in his faith that God would save him.

Then, as the waters rose to the front porch and into the home, boats with rescuers came by, calling for people who were stranded in homes, to leave and go with them. This man, however, moved upstairs, his faith intact, knowing that God would save him.

The waters kept coming, and as levees broke, the water reached the top of the house. Helicopters with rescuers and bull-horns flew through the area, calling for people to be rescued and to be safe with them. This man, turned the help away, climbed to his roof, and resumed praying, asking God to reward his faith and save him from the flooding.

Well, the flooding did not stop, and the man was soon washed off the home and drowned. Arriving in heaven, standing before God, this man asked, “Lord, why was my faith in thee not rewarded? Why did you not save me from the flood? Did I not pray enough? Did I not read my scriptures enough? Did I not believe enough?”

And the Lord, said to him, “My son, I tried my hardest to save you. I sent the newspaper, the TV, the radio, your neighbors, buses, boats, and even helicopters, but you refused them all and would not be saved. What more could I have done to try and save you?”

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS

The apostle James teaches us this important lesson (James 1: 14-18) concerning faith:

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

The evidence of faith is works. It is action.

Moroni further explains the impact of faith by saying

“Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” - Moroni 7:42

TALENTS

These scriptures came to my mind this week, and as I have watched and then re-watched, and read the words of President and Sister Nelson, I connected with the following statement by Sister Nelson:

“You look around and everyone else is tall and straight and reaching to heaven, so to speak. They have everything figured out. They wear the perfect clothes, always seem to say the right things, have no problems, are perfectly obedient—and seem never to have made a mistake in their lives.

And then, well, there’s you and me!”

This statement stuck with me because I too have been a part of a “chosen generation”  - a part of the Latter-day work. For as long as I can remember, I have heard and felt like I was part of a great work going forth, as spoken of in the scriptures. And I have always wanted to be a part of it.

However, I often have struggled with knowing what part I played, what to do with it, what to become. I have felt this sense of “mission,” but felt that perhaps I was not equal to the task – that these sacred latter-day “missions” were left for the best – you know, for the great inspiring people (what I call the “celebrity members”) – Seminary teachers, EFY speakers, Bishops, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents, Apostles, Prophets. It just always felt like the great work was, well, just too great for someone as flawed and small as myself. I was always the one in the parable of the talents who seemingly did not know how to use my one that I was given. I feared the Lord would one day rebuke me for not accomplishing what he had intended me to do.

But a few years ago I learned an important lessons about this parable, from some inspired teaching by Elder Adukaitis of the Quorum of the Seventy. He explained that the reason the man with one talent was rebuked was never about the number of talents he had, regardless of whether he had tried or not – but it was because he had not chosen to try at all! Without the choice to try, and the effort from it, the Lord had no chance of creating a return on his investment.

Sister Nelson stated,

“My dear brothers and sisters, it’s time to stop comparing ourselves with others. It’s time to put away those erroneous views of ourselves and others. The truth is that we are not as hopelessly flawed as we may think, and others are not as perfect as they may appear—all except, of course, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The only thing that really matters is that you and I are doing exactly what we committed—even covenanted—premortally with our Heavenly Father we would do while we are here on earth.”

Much like the man in the house I spoke of earlier, and like the man in the parable of the talents, I sometimes become “comfortable confident” in my faith. I sometimes dig in, in fear of the comparisons, and hold to the comforts of structured religion. Meetings, callings, rituals, and activities. It is how I show my faith, as I await for God to save me.

But God has not asked that I sit on my porch waiting to be saved. He has asked that I take the risk to leave my house, to not just “be rescued”, but to be the rescuer. Not to be an investment, but to MAKE an investment. Not just to Hope, but to BE HOPE.

OUR CHOICE

Sister Nelson told us on Sunday:

“We have opportunities to fulfill our mortal missions, but we don’t have to. No one will make us. We have our agency to choose how we spend our time and energy, our talents and resources. In fact, what we choose to do is actually part of our testing.

The choice is yours and mine. Will we choose to do whatever it takes to fulfill the wonderful missions for which we were sent to earth?”

The choice is indeed ours. And it is for ALL OF US.

We learn in the Doctrine & Covenants that...

34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men… (D&C 121:34-35)

Yes, we are all first chosen to come to this time, in this place, with these privileges, by the power of our previous faith. And now, we are all called again– to choose to once again fight along Christ, to participate in His great work.

3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; (D&C 4: 3-4)

But we need not all be generals or colonels, or even sergeants on the battlefield. We can be the simple, brave, trying soldier, who fights for even the simplest of faiths in something besides themselves – even if it is just the life of the man beside him. In fact, it is among the collective courage and work of the many soldiers that wins the battle.

President Nelson said,

“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”

So, whether we have one talent, 5, or ten, the Lord cares not. He cares more about the attempt we make – the choice we make to try, to act, to fight, to war against Satan, to stand with Jesus Christ once again. And Christ will provide the returns on that investment, He will be the hope for all of us. Through this, we become part of His work, and the Hope of Israel. So, we should strive to do ANYTHING, for ANYONE, ANYTIME on any side of the veil.

Now I would like to share with you one last story of a man whose life exemplified this principle. Who, through faith obtained a great hope, and whose life continues to exemplify the example of the kind of “Hope of Israel” that President and Sister Nelson wish to inspire in each of you. This man’s name is William Clayson.

  

WILLIAM CLAYSON

William was born in England in 1840 to parents who were farm laborers. At the age of 10, he was involved in an accident on the farm when his foot was caught in the threshing machine and he was left lame for the rest of his life. So, being unfit for work as a farmer, he became a shoe maker’s apprentice. He was also a skillful musician, and learned to play a few instruments such as the flute. 

He met the missionaries and contrary to his parents’ wishes, was baptized on May 26th, 1855 at the age of 15. He would travel around with the missionaries, eager to learn from them and in 1859 at the age of 19, was ordained an elder and called to be the branch president in Irchester, England. His influence in his family brought about their conversion. 

“The spirit of gathering to Zion rested upon him, and obedient to its call, William sailed from Liverpool to NYC in April of 1861. By September of that same year, arrived in Salt Lake City by wagon. He traveled south where he settled in the new town of Payson, Utah and became a shoemaker. In Payson William continued to use his musical talents to direct the Payson ward choir, he established the Payson Brass band, the local orchestra, and taught lessons to many in the community. He would also start to arrange and write music for the groups he played with. As part of the Payson Sunday School, he became good friends with Joseph Townsend with whom he began to collaborate with to write many wonderful hymns. Including the music to this well-known hymn, sung at the closing of last week’s devotional: 

259
Hope of Israel

1. Hope of Israel, Zion's army,
Children of the promised day,
See, the Chieftain signals onward,
And the battle's in array!

2. See the foe in countless numbers,
Marshaled in the ranks of sin.
Hope of Israel, on to battle;
Now the vict'ry we must win!

3. Strike for Zion, down with error;
Flash the sword above the foe!
Ev'ry stroke disarms a foeman;
Ev'ry step we conq'ring go.

4. Soon the battle will be over;
Ev'ry foe of truth be down.
Onward, onward, youth of Zion;
Thy reward the victor's crown.

[Chorus]
Hope of Israel, rise in might
With the sword of truth and right;
Sound the war-cry, "Watch and pray!"
Vanquish ev'ry foe today.

Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942

Music: William Clayson, 1840-1887

William Clayson was the first member of the church in my father’s family line. His faith, his willingness to be gathered in, and then to share his talents in the work of the Lord, are an amazing example to me. I am blessed to have this gospel because he chose to do, to not let his faith be dead. I am eternally grateful he chose to follow the prophet and the Savior. I hope to one day stand with the thousands of people who are gathered in because of him, and sing to him the beloved hymns he wrote in praise and gratitude.

TESTIMONY

Brothers and Sisters, I bear you my testimony, that if each of us will take whatever talents and belief we have, exercising it in faith by following the counsel of our Prophet, that Hope will bloom, that we will be blessed to help the Lord in Gathering Israel and truly become the “Hope of Israel.”

If we do, we will partake in the Joy that the Apostle Paul spoke of…

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith. And I know that it was for that joy, of

which I too can partake, that he endured the cross – for I have felt His redeeming love as I have leaned on his saving grace. I know he Lives and I love Him. May we choose to follow Him, to waste and wear out our lives in doing this great work.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.